Bega stabbing: Woman dies, grandson under police guard in hospital
A woman is dead and two men seriously injured after a double stabbing and carjacking in Bega, on the far south coast of NSW, on Friday afternoon.
Police arrested a 20-year-old man around 8.20pm on Friday night near Sapphire Coast Drive in Bournda, following an extensive search of the area surrounding Bega.
Police have spoken to the media about an alleged “major incident” where a woman died and two men were critically injured in Bega on Friday.
“The whole thing is just a terrible event,” Inspector Sue Charman–Horton, South Coast Police District duty officer, said at a media conference in Bega on Saturday morning.
“The local community would be quite upset by the incident, this is not something that is usual in the area.”
About 3.35pm on Friday a passing motorist was flagged down by 71-year-old man seeking help after being stabbed at his home in East Street, Bega.
Emergency services arrived to find the man and his 69-year-old wife critically injured.
The woman died at South East Regional Hospital (SERH) and the man is in a critical condition at St George Hospital.
A short time later, officers from the South Coast Police District pursued a car belonging to the couple being driven by their 20-year-old grandson.
Nearby residents were told to lock their doors and windows and stay indoors as police carried out the manhunt.
About 4.40pm, a 55-year-old man was allegedly struck in the head with a hammer by the same 20-year-old man during the alleged carjacking of his vehicle on the Sapphire Coast Drive in Bournda.
Initial police reports stated the male driver was stabbed in the process, however, NSW Police has since confirmed the driver was assaulted with a hammer.
The 55-year-old has been airlifted to St George Hospital where he also remains in a critical condition.
A woman who was a passenger in the car at the time escaped without injury.
The car crashed 500 metres farther down the road and the driver ran into bushland.
Specialist officers – including the police airwing, PolAir, Negotiators and State Protection Support Unit (SPSU) operatives – were called to assist local police and a perimeter was established.
About 8.20pm the man was arrested and taken to SERH for assessment where he remains under police guard.
" /]
Speaking at the conference on Saturday, Inspector Charman–Horton said the 20-year-old man was not known to Bega police, but she confirmed the man and woman who lived on East Street were his grandparents.
She would not comment on whether the incident was drug or mental health related, only saying police officers had identified he required treatment so he had been taken to SERH following his arrest.
“We know he was unwell and needed to be looked at by experts,” Inspector Charman–Horton said.
She said there were “numerous” police involved in the operation, with a significant use of local resources as well as additional specialists from NSW.
“Our people here in the South Coast Police District put in a great effort, very professional and very caring in regards to the families who have been affected by this,” she said.
“The community too are of great focus for us because this is a very unusual event.”
The victims’ next-of-kin had been contact by police.
No specific charges over the incident have been laid at this stage.
Detectives from the South Coast Police District, assisted by the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. Anyone with information should call Bega Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
With Jenny Noyes and Bega District News